The B117 coronavirus variant, first reported in the UK, has been found in at least 60 countries, 10 more than seven days ago, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.
It also said the South African variant was reported in 23 countries and territories.
Both the UK and South African variants are believed to be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than early strains.
The number of deaths reached a high of 93,000 in the previous week, with 4.7 million new cases reported, the WHO said.
Concerns over the increased infectivity of new strains caused governments around the world to toughen constraints as authorities try to slow infections until vaccines become widely available.
Covid-19 has caused more than two million deaths globally since it was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan more than a year ago, while the number of reported cases is edging towards 100 million, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
The US is by far the worst-hit nation, having recorded more than 400,000 deaths. President-elect Joe Biden focused on healing at a memorial for victims of the pandemic on the eve of his inauguration.
"It's hard sometimes to remember but that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation," Mr Biden said on Tuesday at the National Mall reflecting pool in Washington, where lights were turned on as a memorial to those who died.
"Let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all who we lost."
Almost a year after the US registered its first fatality, the pace of the pandemic has picked up, with 100,000 deaths reported in the past month alone.
Mr Biden made tackling the pandemic his top priority as he prepared to take office in Washington on Wednesday.
He is already being forced to take action, with his aides rejecting a move by outgoing President Donald Trump to lift an entry ban for travellers from Europe and Brazil.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
